Trade guides
Practical, plain-English guides to importing, exporting and sourcing across India, China and Nepal, written by a team that trades every day.
All guides
How to import from China to India, step by step
A practical guide to importing from China to India: IEC registration, product rules, finding suppliers, HS codes, customs duty, shipping and clearance.
Read the guideHow to source products from India
Why and how to source from India: manufacturing hubs by product, finding and checking suppliers, samples, payment, quality control, export documents and shipping.
Read the guideImporting into Nepal from India and China
How Nepali businesses import from India and China: registration, customs duty and 13% VAT, border points, transit through Indian ports, documents and payment.
Read the guideIncoterms 2020 explained, in plain English
What each of the 11 Incoterms 2020 rules means, who pays for what, where risk passes, and which rule to choose for containers, air freight and door-to-door deliveries.
Read the guideHow to calculate landed cost, with a worked example
Landed cost is the true cost of an imported product. Learn the formula, see a worked India import example with customs duty, surcharge and IGST, and avoid hidden costs.
Read the guideCBM, container sizes and how much fits
How to calculate CBM, real container dimensions and capacities for 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft high cube, when to choose LCL or FCL, and tips for loading cartons.
Read the guideHow to verify a manufacturer before you pay
Checks to run before paying a supplier in India or China: registration lookups, factory or trading company, video audits, samples, references, safe payments and red flags.
Read the guideQuality inspections and AQL, explained
Types of quality inspection (pre-production, during production, pre-shipment, loading checks), how AQL sampling works with a worked example, and a checklist for importers.
Read the guideHow manufacturers can find international buyers
A practical playbook for manufacturers in India and China to find buyers abroad: getting export-ready, pricing, trade fairs, marketplaces, social media and sales partners.
Read the guideHS codes explained
What HS codes are, how the six-digit system is extended in India, Nepal and China, how to find the right code for your product, and why classification affects duty.
Read the guideFree tools that go with these guides
Landed cost calculator
Duty, surcharge, GST or VAT, freight and local charges, for India, Nepal or any country.
Open toolCBM and container calculator
Total CBM and weight for your cartons, and how they fill a 20 ft, 40 ft or high-cube container.
Open toolChargeable weight calculator
Volumetric versus actual weight for air, courier and sea LCL freight.
Open toolLive currency converter
Daily exchange rates for INR, CNY, NPR, USD, EUR, AED and more.
Open toolIncoterms 2020 explorer
See who pays for what, and where risk passes, under each of the 11 rules.
Open toolPricing and margin calculator
Turn landed cost into a selling price that protects your margin.
Open tool